Chapter Text
The first time she called him her salt-husband, he grunted in amusment.
''I am no husband.'' He told her, sliding the edge of a whetstone against the grey blade of his axe. The noise was sharp and grating in the small room, but neither of them deigned to notice it.
''Salt-wives are the names given to our whores. No more.''
The axe was pushed out of his hands and she lifted her skirts and brazenly slid into his lap.
''Am I your whore?'' Her tone was blunt, and he had the distinct feeling that the answer was in her question.
''No.'' He rumbled, admitting defeat.
Her lips almost curled up in a smile.
''And are you married, sworn before the drowned god to wed and bed a maiden?'' Her fingers traced down his chest idly, like she was committing him to memory.
Or deciding where to gut him first. It was hard to know, with Sasha.
''..No.''
''And have you other salt-wives you fuck?'' An eyebrow was raised then, and he felt his cheeks twitch in amusment.
He had a feeling that he was losing this battle. A battle with steel and blood he often won. A battle with glib tongues and quick mouths was scarcely his forte.
He had a feeling, that in this case, he didn't particularly mind.
''...No.''
''Then this is as good a marriage as either of us has. And if I am yours, Kraken-son, then you are mine.''
Women were not so bold, even on the Iron islands, where they were born to mothers who drowned them as soon as they were weaned.
But Sasha- for everything he took from her, she took the same from him.
And oh, he would love her til the Drowned god called him home.
''I could marry another.'' He rumbled, nuzzling their noses together, his lips brushing hers as large hands slipped under her skirts, drawing a soft laugh from her.
''You could.'' She agreed. ''You marry some sweet young maid and get her big with your child, and I'll kill them both.''
He drew back to look at her, and she was looking back at him, with eyes as bright as the icy North-wall, and just as cold.
''You would harm my future sons?''
A growl accompanied his words, testing her mettle, and she smiled, her smile sharp. ''Not if I carried them.''
And he couldn't remember ever loving someone more than this fierce woman who would kill just to call him hers.
''You are mine, Kraken-son. Even if all that binds us is the salt.''